That sounds like a “nature vs. nurture” argument. This controversy states those aspects of us that define us come from one of two places: either they are innate (natural), such as genetic traits passed from your parents, or they are gleaned from experiences you had growing up (i.e. how you were nurtured).
The question at hand in the “nature vs. nurture” argument is which aspect is more prevalent in our personalities. There is no question that who we are ‘physically’ can be directly traced to genetics, but is our sentience and personality acquired the same way? Will we inherit our personal tendencies from our parents, or is it a matter of external stimulation in our formative years?
Personally, I lean on the “nurture” side. While I do tend to look at some situations in the same way as my parents (for example, I inherited my mother’s tendency to become inexplicably stressed before guests arrive), most of what makes me me I think comes from experiences I had growing up.